Pages

December 13, 2011

The Return Of Kelly Shoppach

The Red Sox have agreed on a one year, $1.35MM guaranteed contract with catcher Kelly Shoppach.

The addition of Shoppach likely closes the book on Jason Varitek's Red Sox career. In addition to Jarrod Saltalamacchia, the Red Sox have both Ryan Lavarnway and Luis Exposito on the 40-man roster. Shoppach made his debut with Boston in 2005, but was traded to Cleveland in the Coco Crisp deal.

Shoppach, who will be 32 in late April, hit an embarrassing .176/.268/.339/.607 in 253 PA for Tampa Bay last year (and had an equally bad OPS of .650 in 2010), but he can hit lefties - Joe Maddon actually gave him more PA against righties last year against whom he OPSed .431. If used properly, Shoppach and his .909 career OPS against LHP could make a decent platoon with Salty.

Shoppach also led the American League last year in throwing out base runners: 41%. That talent would be most welcome in Boston - hell, catchers even bothering to throw to second would be exciting - but, oddly, that high percentage came after a season of gunning down only 17%:

... Ben Cherington made clear Thursday that he wants [Tek] to remain with the organization in some role. ... Sources told the Chicago Tribune that the [Cubs have] expressed preliminary interest in both Varitek and Tim Wakefield. ...

Shoppach led the American League by throwing out 41 percent of attempted base-stealers. Varitek threw out just 14 percent. Saltalamacchia threw out about 31 percent. ... Among active catchers, Shoppach's career .909 OPS against lefties is fourth-highest in the majors.